Port Houston Business Stronger Than Ever

Business continues to be strong for Port Houston. Several records were broken during May.

“Port-wide container business is stronger than ever,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther announced to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority during its June 26 meeting. “The highest record in container volume in Port Houston’s history was set last month. More than 245 thousand TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent containers) passed across our facilities,” he told the Commission.

This latest highest total for Port Houston containers reflects a seven percent increase over the previous record set in March, with 617 thousand TEUs recorded. Total container volume through May is more than 1.1 Million TEUs, which shows an increase of six percent over the same period in 2017. Container volume activity is nearly even noting Import loaded containers up 10 percent year-to-date at 457,882 TEUs.

Breakbulk and special project business lines continue to be strong. “Import steel continues to show solid growth,” Guenther shared in his report. Port Houston general cargo terminals handled more than 500,000 tons of steel in May, the highest total since April 2015.

Demonstrating its commitment to financial stewardship and economic impact to the community it serves, Guenther reported to the Commission that Port Houston’s finance team concluded a bond refunding transaction that generated savings of about $47 million for the taxpayers of Harris County.

The next regular Port Commission meeting is scheduled July 31 at 9:00 a.m.